SHOW of strength... Father Arthur Nearey urges everyone to join the Observer campaign and display a sticker in their car.

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THE Observer's Hands Off Our Hospital campaign has been boosted by nearly 1,000 signatures, thanks to the hard work of the Friends of Our Hospital pressure group.

Its members burst into action when regional health chiefs announced proposals to axe maternity, children's and neo-natal services at the Infirmary, as well as taking serious accident and emergency cases out of town.

Father Arthur Nearey, the group's chairman and Rochdale Infirmary chaplain, said he had not yet come across anyone in favour of the cuts.

He said: "I've not met a single member of the public who approves of the reconfiguration. People are ready to accept change, but not at the expense of basic care services.

"The health bosses have not convinced anyone of the benefit of these changes. There is nothing to convince us the service is going to be any better.

"Is a locality hospital a posh name for a community hospital and are the people going to be better off or not or will they be worse?

"I'd love to know what the benefits are because under the proposals we will have to travel further and there will be more risk with maternity or accident and emergency."

Father Nearey said he feared services would be lost if people were left uninformed and did not speak out and said the Friends group was ready to campaign during the three-month consultation period.

He said: "My fear is people waking up one day and realising they don't have a health service anymore, so we need to speak out to make sure this is not a done deal.

"It is vital people sign up to the campaign as well as have their say during the public consultation period, which starts in January.

"People are beginning to realise we're endangered and health bosses must listen to the people of Rochdale."

The Friends group is hoping to arrange a series of meetings for the new year to run during the consultation period, but is urging residents to sign up to the Observer's campaign.

Father Nearey said: "A lot of people still don't realise what's going on.

"The midwives did a wonderful job last Saturday, but it must be a concerted effort involving as many groups in the borough as possible.

"It's important to keep the pressure up and keep people informed while the consultation takes place and we're hoping there will be a groundswell of dissent across the borough."